Crazy Together

Jet Lag (Rewritten)

Will's POV
It's been at least an hour and a half since we've arrived at the airport. Jonathan has dozed off three times, Argyle keeps nudging him back to the land of the living, but El and I are still at the edge of our seats. The glass doors open and a flurry of people starts cascading through it. There are dozens of families and chauffeurs holding up signs with names, which makes me remember that we didn't make one for Mike. Well, we can do it next time I guess.

He finally walks through the gate after a couple minutes. He's wearing - what is he wearing? He looks completely different. Taller, his hair is longer now, he has sunglasses on (inside, he's wearing sunglasses inside.), a yellow button up over a purple shirt and he's holding a bouquet of flowers that match his colors.

If one second he looks lost, the next he's being smothered by El in a bone crushing hug, one that shows just how much she missed him, and they also share a kiss. Me and the older boys make our way towards them both.

- Careful, - he beams - You're smashing your present! I hand picked those in Hawkins, I know you like yellow so I put a bunch of those in there but I realized it was too much yellow so I put some purple in too, I think it ended up 30/70 but like, I didn't really count it and I'm not too good at math...

El looks down at the tag on the bouquet as Mike kept on rambling. She looked up again as happy as ever, so it probably says something romantic and cheesy.

- They're perfect. Thank you.

I call Mike's name and he finally looks up at the rest of us. I'm giving him a painting as a welcome gift. It's been so long since we've seen each other, and I just wanted to see him again. I go in for a hug and-

-Oh, hi. How you doing? - he says, with a couple pats on my arm.

Oh.
Yeah. Right.

-Hi...- I stuttered. Mike looks around like he's looking for something to say to me. Like he doesn't know how to talk to me. 

-What's that? - he settles on, and I just wish he would've kept the awkward silence.

- It's just some painting I've been doing, it's nothing re-

-Oh, cool.

I don't have much time to react to Mike completely dismissing my existance because Argyle is hugging him now (?) and talking about his shirt being a shitty knock-off or something or other. Doesn't really matter, I guess. I should've known he wouldn't have missed me. He barely speaks to me anymore. No letters, no calls, complete radio silence for months.

El is talking to him about the plans she has for the day, as they walk in front of us like we're not even there. At this point my painting is crumpled up like a used napkin. I didn't realize I was holding it so forcefully.

- Burritos for breakfast?

- Trust me, they're really good. After burritos we're going to meet Will's friend at Rink-o-mania, it's like, the most fun place in Lenora.

Excuse me? Did she say my friend?

- Wait, what? El, what are you talking about? - I whispered, pulling her aside.

- Don't you remember? You told me we were going on a double date. - she replies in the same tone.

- I specifically said we were not going to do a double date with Kylie.

-Uh, who's Kylie? - A different voice surges. It's Mike's.

-No one. She's just some girl from Biology. - Please don't have follow up questions.

-Is she your girlfriend? - Oh God.

- I can assure you she's nothing of the sort. She's also not going to be there. - I direct the last sentence to El with a pointed look, which she returns with a squint of her eyes.

- All right then. - Mike says, ending the conversation.

//-----------//

We arrived at Rink-o-mania, they were still holding hands, as they were the whole ride from the airport to there. Jonathan shouts a "have fun!" and then he's gone.

El offers a smile to the bored teenager behind the counter as we grab our loaned skates, before Mike asks her:

- Are your friends gonna be here too?

And that is confusing because, last time I checked, El was being relentlessly bullied at school and didn't have any friends. Which is a horrible thing, but it's weird that Mike doesn't know that.

- Well, I told Stacy and Angela to stay home. I want today to be all about us. - She said through a smile that was trying too hard not to be fake.

Will - Angela? You talked to Angela?

-I mean, yeah. I come to parties here with her all of the time.- She lies, straight through her teeth. - Oh, you'll need socks with that, Mike. They sell them at the counter.

Mike gives a short smile and sails back to the counter as me and El sit down to put our skates on. El looks like she's shaking out of her skin, so I try to be as sympathetic as possible when I question her.
- So, parties, huh? Why is it the first time in hearing about this?

El shrugs, - I don't know. Maybe you should pay more attention or something.

Its not a deep statement. She's only deflecting my question, but still, that hits me deep in my core. El has been in so much trouble, and she needs help from anyone she can get, and it took me so long to realize how bad things actually were. Maybe if I had paid more attention, she wouldn't have to lie to Mike now.

- Maybe I should've. But I still don't think what you're doing is right.

- What are you talking about?

- This whole thing with Angela! Look, I'm not trying to meddle but I don't think Mike wouldn't appreciate the fact you're not being truthful with him. We were both bullied before. It's not something you need to hide from him.

- Well... I...

- I asked for vomit green and I got vomit green! How cool is that? - Mike interrupts.

I finish lacing up and follow Mike and El into the roller rink. They seem happy to be together. But Mike has no idea El is being dishonest, and they're laughing while they skate in front of me, and I can't help but feel... invisible.

That doesn't change when we sit down at a booth to drink our milkshakes. Mike and El are speaking to each other, talking about what they've been doing all these months (as if they don't trade letters constantly), and I'm just not a part of the conversation.

And El keeps on lying to him, about everything. Her friends, her grades, mom's job, all of it. Just how long has she been doing this bit?

Suddenly, a blonde girl who wearing too much lip gloss comes up to the table, with three goons following behind. Angela.

- Well, well, what do we have here? Jane? Where have you been hiding this handsome thing? - she squeaked, voice dripping with obviously fake and condescending excitement.

- Angela? Uh, hi. This is my boyfriend, Mike. - El hesitated.

- I've heard a lot about you. It's nice to meet El- uh, Jane's new friends. - Mike slips up, lifting a hand for Angela to shake.

- Friends?- she replied wide-eyed. - Oh, yeah, sure! Cmon, friend, let's skate.

Oh no.